Song of the Day: Shelby Earl – Under Evergreen

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Each and every Friday we offer songs by local artists. Today’s selection, featured on the Afternoon Show with Kevin Cole, is “Under Evergreen” by Shelby Earl from her self-released album Burn the Boats.

This week everyone in town has SXSW on the brain and there’s clearly a lot of love and support going out to the more than 40 Seattle artists as they hit the road for Austin. One of these artists is songstress Shelby Earl whose debut album is striking chords with fans and critics alike. Earl, a long-time member of the music community, didn’t write her first song until she was 29 always having been behind the scenes supporting other artist’s careers. When she finally took her turn under the spotlight it was as one half of the duo The Hope, but is now embarking on a solo career –one that has a lot of help from friends and collaborators including members of The Long Winters, SHIM, Telekinesis, (former) Fleet Foxes, The Maldives and many other local artists. Burn the Boats was recorded over several months with producers John Roderick and Eric Corson who helped guide Earl in her first effort and was funded in part by a successful Kickstarter campaign. The result is a collection of songs deeply biographical and narrative in style that Earl claims are “a true reflection of where I’ve been and of where I’m headed.” From the opening note on today’s song “Under Evergreen,” you hear the power and raw emotion seen throughout Earl’s album and the vulnerable beauty of her lyrics and melodies.

Folks down in Austin this week can catch Earl at STAG’s Rock and Roll Circus South at Zax w/ Brite Futures, STAG, Cobirds Unite, The Young Evils, James Apollo & Kasey Anderson tonight, 3/18, and the 3 Continents Day party at Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop on 3/19. Her next Seattle area show is STAG’s Rock and Roll Circus on 4/16 at Darell’s Tavern. More dates and info on her MySpace page and you can check out more tracks on her Bandcamp site.

In the meantime, here she is performing “At the Start” with Burn the Boats producer John Roderick at her CD release party earlier this month.